Contact arrangement for safe disconnection of a power supply in a vehicle

Abstract

A contact arrangement is described for connecting a power supply to electrical components in a vehicle. The contact arrangement may include a first mechanical contact for connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component, and a second mechanical contact for connecting a second lead of a power supply to the electrical component. The first and second mechanical contacts are configured to disconnect the power supply in the event of a collision. The first mechanical contact is configured to be arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A contact arrangement for connecting a power supply to electrical components in a vehicle, the contact arrangement comprising:
 a first mechanical contact for selectively connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component; and 
 a second mechanical contact for selectively connecting a second lead of the power supply to the electrical component, the first and second mechanical contacts configured to disconnect the power supply in the event of a collision; 
 wherein the first mechanical contact is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle, the substantially perpendicular arrangement preventing reconnection of at least one of the first and second mechanical contacts as a result of a secondary collision after the collision. 
 
     
     
       2. The contact arrangement according to  claim 1 , configured to disconnect the power supply by moving a switch element of the first mechanical contact in a first direction in the transverse plane of the vehicle, and by moving a switch element of the second mechanical contact in a second direction in relation to the transverse plane of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       3. The contact arrangement according to  claim 2 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the disconnection of the first contact and the second contact. 
     
     
       4. The contact arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the first contact and the second contact if a collision is detected. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle comprising:
 an electrical machine; 
 a power supply providing power to the electrical machine; and 
 a contact arrangement according to  claim 2  arranged between the power supply and the electrical machine. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle according to  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electrical vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The contact arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each mechanical contact is an electromechanical relay. 
     
     
       8. The contact arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a collision detector configured to detect a collision of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The contact arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the collision detector is an accelerometer. 
     
     
       10. The contact arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the first contact and second contact are configured to disconnect the power supply if a collision is detected by the collision detector. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle comprising:
 an electrical machine; 
 a power supply providing power to the electrical machine; and 
 a contact arrangement according to  claim 1  arranged between the power supply and the electrical machine. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electrical vehicle. 
     
     
       13. A power supply arrangement for a vehicle comprising:
 a power supply; 
 a first mechanical contact for selectively connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component; and 
 a second mechanical contact for selectively connecting a second lead of a power supply to an electrical component, the first and second mechanical contacts configured to disconnect the power supply from an electrical component in the event of a collision; 
 wherein the first mechanical contact is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle, the substantially perpendicular arrangement preventing reconnection of at least one of the first and second mechanical contacts as a result of a secondary collision after the collision. 
 
     
     
       14. The power supply arrangement according to  claim 13 , configured to disconnect the power supply by moving a switch element of the first mechanical contact in a first direction in the transverse plane of the vehicle, and by moving a switch element of the second mechanical contact in a second direction in relation to the transverse plane of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       15. The contact arrangement according to  claim 14 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the disconnection of the first contact and the second contact. 
     
     
       16. The contact arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the first contact and the second contact if a collision is detected. 
     
     
       17. The power supply arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the power supply is an energy storage. 
     
     
       18. The power supply arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the power supply is a battery. 
     
     
       19. The power supply arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the power supply is a fuel cell. 
     
     
       20. The contact arrangement according to  claim 13 , further comprising a collision detector configured to detect a collision of the vehicle.